Kia Rondo

Comments

yes this same question is being discussed on another forum also, but the Korean factory built 2,853 Carens/Rondo's in July for export (don't have August figures yet), so something must be happening. But like you I can't seem to find anything anywhere on what the changes for 2010 Rondo are going to be. KIA said they are going to change the whole lineup by 2012 and by that time the Borrego will be the oldest vehicle in the pack. You would think there would be hints of some changes as you seem to know all about the other models.

i just noticed that some of the other Rondo have a lockable fuel filler lid (close flat and has to be opened from inside pulling a latch), but mine is not lockable.is this new to the 09 model or is it only available to certain trim?

they keep changing bits of things each year - but why they go backwards is beyond me! The '07 was the best equipped model for the little things.

Can't help you on a lockable cap, but there is other auto stores besides Cdn Tire. What's the dealer say? I've never had the need for one, even all my other vehicles that had non-lockable cap covers - never was an issue.

Canadian - '08 Rondo EX, 2.4L

(when is this site ever going to get upto date with other forums and allow signatures and profiles that show up with each posting - its the only forum that I belong too that is so backward in this respect - its a pain! They said over a year ago it was going to change but nothings happened yet!)

I'm using fluid rated for minus 20F. I had to put a couple of ziplock bags filled with hot water on the nozzles to get them to thaw out. There was no ice covering the nozzles or anything. A half an hour later they unfroze. The back nozzle started working after the front nozzles unfroze. I'm not sure how that worked.

Temperatures have been in the teens and projected to get 5 to 10 below zero later this week,

Pretty hazardous situation. Wondering if I should invest in a heater for the fluid?

I would suspect the number one reason to change more often is the warm up cycle which will take longer in colder climate. Mixture is richer during warmup and blow-by will condense in cold oil.Because of the extreme temperature change during warm up I'd definitely consider an engine heater even if changing every 4 months. Constantly cycling through the extremes would add to metal fatigue.

I have a new Malibu and living in southern GA. The computer determines when to change, but as of now it looks like that will be about 12,000 miles and I will make the one year mark first. I'm sure I'll change earlier though.

I just joined this forum because my fiance just purchased an '08 Rondo. Unfortunately it didn't come with fog lights, which is a handy option up here in Wisconsin. I acquired OEM fog lights and bezel blanking covers before I discovered that the Rondo puts the switch in the turn signal arm. Has anyone here installed an aftermarket switch? If so where? Any/all advice on this would be most appreciated.

fyi--I advocated for the purchase. I really like the Rondo's roominess and elegant simplicity. It reminds me of my AWD Honda Element.

I have a '08 EX Rondo with the factory fog lights. In my own experience I really haven't found any necessity to need them (I thought it was a good thing to have when I bought it). I find the regular low beam with the distinctive cut-off and wide spread seems to do a terrific job - works great in heavy snow too.Have you tested them in your local fog first?

IMO regular oil changes are the cheapest engine insurance possible. I wouldn't go past 4K miles even with the synthetic I use. I'm sure the owner's manual recommendation is sufficient to keep the engine going till the end of the warranty period. But, I'm also certain they're not gonna put a new mill in if it breaks later.

Another example of idiots in Detroit. As you stated, the shorter wave length of light penetrates fog better, far better than white light of which much will be reflected back blinding the driver. Red near infra-red would be best but red is only legal on the back. So the next best would be a near red Amber.Also, I hate those yellow lights on the back. Red is the only color that does not cause night blindness and that is why it is used on aircraft carriers during night operations.

We bought a 2010 Kia Rondo with tan interior and have found the seats stain from raindrops if you don't close the door quickly, snow if it happens to fall on the seats, and some water from a water bottle that tipped. I have never had any vehicle do this. I left a white towel on it to absorb the water bottle stain. It stained the towel brown. Took the kids sleigh riding, some snow on their coats made the seat belts run and stain. Part of the seat belt is now a darker tan. We are not happy at all with spending money on a 2010 vehicle and having it look like it is 10 years old in 4 months. We are taking it to the dealership to have an inspection done, which the results then go to the district manager, and then to Kia. We will see where we get with this, but obviously Kia has not addressed their upholstery fabric issue since 2008.

When we bought our 09 gray Rondo, I would not let anyone use it until I had sprayed the cloth seats with Scotchgard 3x. I thought the fabric looked like it would stain easily. Also, I had read things on these forums.

But, I wd have done the Scotchgard route anyway. I have been a big fan of the stuff ever since I sprayed it on a white purse (to be used by dau at a wedding) and water just beaded up & ran off it.

It has been working well for me & I have been driving it more than a year.